Skip to content
Search

Latest Stories

Paris 2024: Indian shuttlers PV Sindhu and Lakshya Sen enter last 16

Sindhu defeated Kristin Kuuba of Estonia with scores of 21-5 and 21-10, while Sen triumphed over Indonesia's Jonatan Christie with scores of 21-18 and 21-12.

Paris 2024: Indian shuttlers PV Sindhu and Lakshya Sen enter last 16

INDIAN badminton players PV Sindhu and Lakshya Sen advanced to the pre-quarterfinals (last 16) of the women’s and men’s singles events at the Paris Olympics on Wednesday.

Sindhu, aiming for a third Olympic medal, defeated Kristin Kuuba of Estonia 21-5, 21-10 in her second Group M match. Sen triumphed over Indonesia’s Jonatan Christie, world number 4, with a score of 21-18, 21-12.


“I think it was a tough match today, happy with the way I played,” said Sen, currently ranked 22 in the world. “Yes, definitely (gold is in sight). I think the last few months the form has been really good. There have been ups and downs, but overall, I was in good shape in the last few months, and especially while playing here in the French Open, I found my momentum and form. I was just trying to build up for a good event and I’m really pumped up to fight every match and every point.”

Sen is set to face world number 13 HS Prannoy in an all-Indian contest. Sindhu is likely to compete against world number 9 Chinese player He Bingjiao, against whom she has a record of nine wins and 11 losses. Sindhu had beaten Bingjiao during her bronze medal run at the Tokyo Games. Prannoy will face Vietnam’s Le Duc Phat later in the day.

Sen, a 2021 world championships bronze medallist, showed strategic skill and maturity against Christie. He focused on keeping the shuttle flat and targeting Christie’s weak forehand. Christie tried to slow down the rallies and used cross-court shots to challenge Sen.

In the first game, Christie led 5-0 and later 8-2, but Sen regrouped, keeping the shuttle flat and capitalising on Christie’s mistakes. Sen gained a 7-8 score before a forehand smash gave him a one-point lead. Sen engaged Christie in fast exchanges, eventually winning 14-12, before Christie slowed the pace with a rally and tied the game at 16-16. Christie took an 18-16 lead, but Sen’s straight smash and Christie’s wide shot tied the score at 18-18. Sen won the game point with a flat push and a behind-the-back return.

After the change of sides, Sen made judgement errors, tying the score at 3-3. He then increased the tempo, moving to a 10-5 lead. Christie made more errors, allowing Sen to reach 18-12. Sen won the match after Christie sent the shuttle to the net.

Earlier, Sindhu topped her group with a win over Kuuba in 33 minutes. “It was important for me to top the group. I would be playing against He Bingjiao mostly. I hope I take this confidence and go forward. It’s not going to be easy, especially in the next coming rounds, so I have to be prepared and be 100 per cent,” said Sindhu.

Sindhu, seeking to become the first Indian to win three Olympic medals, won the opening game against Kuuba in 14 minutes. Kuuba challenged Sindhu in the second game but ultimately could not match Sindhu’s performance. Sindhu’s cross-court smashes gave her a 15-6 lead, ending the match as Kuuba saved two match points before surrendering.

(With inputs from PTI)

More For You

Sunita-Williams-Reuters

Sunita Williams was part of the SpaceX Crew-9 mission and had been stranded in space for over nine months. (Photo: Reuters)

Reuters)

India looks amazing from space, says Sunita Williams

NASA astronaut Sunita Williams described India as "amazing" from space and expressed her intention to visit her "father's home country" to share her experiences on space exploration.

Speaking at a press conference on Monday, she responded to a question about how India appeared from space and the possibility of collaboration with the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO).

Keep ReadingShow less
IPL 2025: RCB vs GT – Bengaluru Braces for High-Voltage Battle

Out of the 5 encounters between the two teams, RCB has won 3, while GT has secured 2 victories so far

Getty

IPL 2025 - RCB vs GT: Bengaluru prepares for a high-voltage encounter

The Indian Premier League (IPL) 2025 is set to heat up as Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) takes on Gujarat Titans (GT) in the 14th match of the season at M Chinnaswamy Stadium in Bengaluru on April 2nd. This exciting encounter brings together two teams in top form, with both having a win and a loss under their belt. However, RCB, with their unbeaten record so far in the tournament, enters the contest with more confidence.

RCB’s form and strength

RCB has been nothing short of dominant in their first two matches of the season. They have put on stellar performances, especially with their commanding victories over Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) and Chennai Super Kings (CSK). In their last match against KKR, RCB chased down a target of 175 runs with ease, reaching the target in just 16.2 overs with seven wickets to spare. Their victory over CSK was even more impressive, as they handed the three-time champions their biggest home defeat in terms of runs. With two wins and a positive net run rate of +2.266, RCB’s well-balanced squad, including Virat Kohli, Rajat Patidar, and Josh Hazlewood, is primed for another thrilling victory.

Keep ReadingShow less
Anurag Bajpayee's Gradiant: The water company tackling a global crisis

Anurag Bajpayee's Gradiant: The water company tackling a global crisis

Rana Maqsood

In a world increasingly defined by scarcity, one resource is emerging as the most quietly decisive factor in the future of industry, sustainability, and even geopolitics: water. Yet, while the headlines are dominated by energy transition and climate pledges, few companies working behind the scenes on water issues have attracted much public attention. One of them is Gradiant, a Boston-based firm that has, over the past decade, grown into a key player in the underappreciated but critical sector of industrial water treatment.

A Company Born from MIT, and from Urgency

Founded in 2013 by Anurag Bajpayee and Prakash Govindan, two researchers with strong ties to the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), Gradiant began as a scrappy start-up with a deceptively simple premise: make water work harder. At a time when discussions about climate change were centred almost exclusively on carbon emissions and renewable energy, the trio saw water scarcity looming in the background.

Keep ReadingShow less
Mythili Prakash's all-female show 'She's Auspicious' humanises the goddess

Mythili Prakash in 'She's Auspicious'

Mythili Prakash's all-female show 'She's Auspicious' humanises the goddess

Shiveena Haque

ACCLAIMED American Bharatanatyam exponent Mythili Prakash recently took centre stage with the UK premiere of her show at the newly opened Sadler’s Wells East theatre in Stratford, London.

Any new venue drums up a world of excitement and almost feels like going on a first date, and this was no different. The freshness of everything was immediately impactful in this suitably lit venue. New carpet, modern fixtures, a Great Gatsby-inspired ambience, and the smell of unforgettable art in the air. There was also a dash of loving memories thrown in.

Keep ReadingShow less
Saif Ali Khan’s ‘Jewel Thief: The Heist Begins’ Poster Unveiled

Saif Ali Khan, Jaideep Ahlawat, and the ensemble cast shine in the poster of Jewel Thief: The Heist

Instagram/netflix_in

Saif Ali Khan’s latest Netflix film ‘Jewel Thief: The Heist Begins’ drops an intriguing new poster

Netflix released a new poster for Jewel Thief: The Heist Begins, and it’s already got fans talking. The image shows Saif Ali Khan with a sharp, focused gaze, his eye cleverly framed by the silhouette of a diamond, hinting at the high-stakes heist at the heart of the film.

Slated for release on April 25, the movie follows a skilled thief hired by a crime boss to steal the legendary African Red Sun diamond. But as expected, things don’t go as planned. The teaser, dropped earlier this year, showed us a tense partnership between Saif and Jaideep Ahlawat, with twists, betrayals, and plenty of action in store.

Keep ReadingShow less